Bangladesh is observing a national day of mourning today (Monday, December 23) to honor the passing of A.F. Hasan Arif, Advisor to the Interim Government for the Ministry of Land, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

A notification issued on Sunday (December 22) by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid confirmed the decision. The government announced that the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous institutions, educational establishments, and Bangladesh missions abroad.

Additionally, special prayers for the departed soul will be offered in all mosques across the country. Other religious institutions will also hold services for his peace.

Hasan Arif will be laid to rest today at 10:00 AM at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur, Dhaka. His body has been kept at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) morgue, awaiting the arrival of his daughter from Canada.

Arif passed away on Friday, December 20, at 3:10 PM due to a heart attack at the age of 83. His funeral prayers were held on Friday night at Dhanmondi`s Baitul Aman Mosque, Saturday morning at the High Court premises, and later at the Secretariat.

Born on July 10, 1941, in Kolkata, Hasan Arif completed his early education at St. Xavier`s College and graduated with an LLB from the University of Calcutta. He began his legal career at the Kolkata High Court in 1967 before moving to Dhaka, where he was enrolled as a High Court lawyer in 1970.

He served as Attorney General of Bangladesh from 2001 to April 28, 2005, and took oath as an advisor to the Interim Government on August 8. During Fakhruddin Ahmed`s caretaker government, he also held roles in the Ministries of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Land, and Religious Affairs.